Many people are not aware that there are actually types of auto shipping carriers that you can choose between when you need to relocate a vehicle. This is one of the common misconceptions that can lead to people getting the wrong kind of transport lined up and then having a less-than-ideal experience. The more that you know about your car carrier options, the more likely you will be to have a great experience when you choose to move your car to your new home in this way. There are different types of carriers such as open, enclosed and flatbed transport carriers.
Some car carriers offer more than one kind of trailer to choose from while others really only handle a specific kind of transport style. You will need to know more about your options so that you can narrow down the companies that you are looking into to find the right one. A little self-education can go a long way when you have a car that needs to be moved for you to a new location. You can also, check motorcycle shipping carrier make sure that you get quotes from all of the companies that you are thinking of working with, and be sure that you look at the quotes carefully.
If you are ready to learn some more about the types of carriers that can ship your car, you need to keep reading!
Types of Carriers to Ship Your Car
1. Broker
A broker works with various car shipping entities to help their customers to find the right shipping arrangement for their needs. This can be a great way to get a good deal on a shipping job and you can save yourself a lot of time and effort into researching companies if you work with a broker. You will need to remember that the broker is not the actual shipping company and they do not have full control over what is offered to you.
This is working with a third-party company which has its pros and cons. Make sure that you check into the details of the broker and the shipping company that they are contracting with so that you are positive that you feel comfortable with the contract that you are agreeing to sign up for.
2. Carrier
A car carrier can choose not to work with a broker and to offer contracts directly to customers. This can be the easiest way to find out all the specifics of a transport job and you might want to leave the broker out of the mix if you are more comfortable working on booking your transport job yourself. Do make sure that you get quotes from all of the companies that you are thinking of working with and be sure that you look at the quotes carefully.
You will want to look into various options when dealing with a carrier directly so that you can find the right company for your unique needs. Not all carriers are created equal so you might want to make sure to shop around a little bit before settling on the right company for your needs. Make sure that you check company credentials with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to be sure that you are not talking to a scammer before you sign a contract. If the company that you are speaking with cannot provide an FMCSA number to you, you will want to immediately stop talking to them about quotes.
3. Single Transport
In single transport, a smaller truck with a flatbed-style trailer or a smaller towing-style trailer will arrive to pick up your car. This is a good choice if you have a very short distance that your car needs to traverse to get to your new home. There are some companies that provide this service that will cover a longer distance but most of these trailers can only be used to cover small trips. This can be more expensive than other options since you will pay for the trip in full without splitting the cost with other customers.
4. International Shipping Companies
This kind of shipping company will offer you the chance to move your car overseas if you need to be able to do this. You will pay for a portion of the trip overland in most cases. The rest of the trip will be handled by a ship that is booked by the company. This second part of the trip will be contracted with a container ship company that will bring your car over the ocean to your new home. Some companies also find air travel options for cars that need to be delivered to a different country although this is usually too cost-prohibitive to be a reasonable choice.
You will have to work with a company that specifically handles this kind of trip if you do need to move your car to a new country in this manner. You will find that most shipping companies will only focus on state-to-state travel and not overseas travel. Most shipping companies do not work in both spaces because the needs of each trip are so disparate.
Different Shipping Companies Provide Different Benefits
There are various kinds of shipping companies and you can choose to work with these different entities based on your needs or your preferences. You might not have far to move your car and a single transport job will take care of your needs. If you are moving to a new country and want to move your car too, you will need to work with a company that can provide this kind of transport and helps you to get all the right paperwork done to move your car into the new country you will be residing in.
Working with carriers and brokers also conveys their own pros and cons. No matter what company type you are working with, make sure that you do your research and get a detailed quote from them. The more that you know about each company, the more likely you will be to get the right contract in place for your needs. Working with a shipping company should make your life easier, not harder, so be sure that you are not compromising just because a carrier is cheap or is local. Finding the right car carrier is important to ensure that you feel comfortable in your choice.